Chapter 149: Influence

If possible..I want to settle this as Nii-san but since you challenged me to a duel, it seems I cant continue acting any longer.

Saying so, I neatly adjust my appearance.

Then, I stretch up my back and put a Leo-like smile on my face and turn to face Father.

Your Majesty, I, Leonard would like to beg for your forgiveness. My deepest apology for deceiving you.

I had my doubt butis it really you, Leonard?

Yes. it is a big sin to deceive Your Majesty but this is what Nii-san had entrusted me with. It is a part of our strategy so please forgive us.

I do not mind such a minor thing. Butwhen did you switch places with him?

I switched places with Nii-san since the time I was preparing to leave the capital.

When I told him so, Father nodded to himself several times as if he was convinced.

Seeing that, I turned my attention toward Laurenz.

It seems that he was surprised that I suddenly acted like Leo but his hostility toward me still persists.

My father mentioned the possibility that you might actually be His Highness Leonard butyou cant deceive me. His Highness Leonard is not someone who would commit such an outrageous act!

I am troubled that you would say that but..in the first place, could you clarify what was it that is so outrageous about my action? Marquis Weitling.

We followed your provocation and act to eliminate you, Your Highness Arnold! Your Highness said so yourself! That we should use any means necessary to eliminate you!

Certainly, Nii-san did say that. If you are saying that is the reason you acted then I shall accept it. However, what happened to that? You tried to eliminate Nii-san through any means necessary but who is it that got the table turned on him now?

That is where the problem lies! After you provoked us, now you try to defeat us using His Majestys power! If that is not outrageous then what is!?

The young nobles of the white seagull alliance voice their support of Laurenzs words.

I see. Thats where they are dissatisfied with huh.

They made their move because they were provoked. Now that they are being beaten by me who utilized the Emperors power, they are saying that this is outrageous.

Dont make me laugh.

I have one question for you, Marquis Weitling.

What is it? [Your Highness Arnold]?

It seems that he has no intention to accept me as Leo huh.

What a fool. And this is his final chance to withdraw as well.

If this keeps going, it will be out of my control soon. Even though I tried so hard to not shed blood unnecessarily.

Nii-san provoked you to eliminate him. Thats why you acted according to his words. You are saying that you simply did what you were told and you think that it is unreasonable for you to be punished even after you were caught. That is your point right?

Exactly!

I seethen let me ask you this. If you are able to [use any means necessary] to eliminate Nii-san, isnt it unreasonable for you to find fault with him when Nii-san did the same thing? His first move happened to be to switch places with me. I dont think that this is the case but you all really do not think that you can do anything to him and while he isnt allowed to retaliate right? Nii-sans words were [I will not accept anyone who can not at least eliminate me]. And without being able to eliminate him, you were defeated. You all should be aware of the consequence for that now, yes?

That is the summary of this incident.

The white seagull alliance claimed that the Dull Prince is unsuitable to be near Finne and in response, I told them that if they have any complaints they can come and try to get rid of me.

Then, they made their move, and splendidly got the table turned on them.

Thats why they are now being treated one-sidedly as the losers.

Th, that is just sophistry! You laid the trap out for us and now you blame us for stepping on it!?

I thought that was what I said just now. Was I not being clear? This is not some honorable duel from the start. This was, so to speak, politics. And in politics, the winner is absolute. Thats why you are not allowed to lose. Well.it is only recently that I have learned that lesson though.

That is irrational! I can not acknowledge such an outrageous action! Even if you really are His Highness Leonard, I can not allow a prince with such a bullish way of thinking to become an emperor!

If my actions seem outrageous to you then it just means that you are simply naive and ignorant. Lets say that I go along with your reasoning that I am being outrageous and unsuited to become an emperor. I wonder how you will justify this situation? You just challenged a prince to a duel in front of His Majesty. You know that I can take your action as a show of contempt toward the imperial family right?

Observing Laurenz, I can see that he is at a loss for words.

He probably challenged me to a duel because he was carried away by the situation.

He should be well aware that such an action will not be allowed to pass.

Th, this is a personal duel! A simple challenge from an individual called Laurenz to Arnold!

Stop it already..it is unsightly.

Elder Weitling muttered as if he couldnt endure it anymore.

Elder Weitling then turned toward father, got down on his knees, and rub his head on the floor.

It has already come to this, Your Majesty. Please take both my sons neck and mine. I cant bear seeing my son bringing shame to himself any more than this.

F, Father!?

Laurenz looks at Elder Weitling in disbelief.

Well, this is not surprising. After all, challenging me to a duel here means that he has no respect toward the Emperor.

Raise your head. Edmund.

I can not..

Fuu..Marquis Weitling. I was under the impression that you, along with the white seagull alliance already admitted [your loss], was I wrong? Are you not here in this manner because you acknowledged your defeat?

Y, Your Majesty! We are not defeated yet! His Highness Arnold simply borrowed your power, Your Majesty! Moreover, he acted as if it was his own power and tried to force his way with us! He is simply being arrogant!

Arrogant huh.then what about you? This meeting was set up by the two dukes and your father. Including me and the Prime Minister, you have disrespect every single one of us here, do you not think that you yourself are being arrogant, Marquis?

Th, that ismy deepest apology for my rudeness. I couldnt suppress my emotionhowever, I have no intention to withdraw this challenge!

Father looks down on Laurenz as if he was a child throwing a tantrum and turns toward Franz.

As if he understands what Father has in mind, Franz nods.

Marquis Weitling. Will you allow me a question?

Yes, Prime Minister.

If you have not accepted your loss then why did you seek this reconciliation?

This reconciliation was not according to our will. It was our fathers who moved. We simply couldnt stop them.

I see. Then you do admit that you are in a disadvantageous position, correct?

U, Uhh..yes.

Laurenz tried to say something back but perhaps seeing Franz stare straight at him, he lost his will to make an argument and admit it with a small voice.

The moment he heard that Franz nodded and concluded the matter.

Then this duel can not be allowed. A duel must be applied from a person with equal standing. Since you admitted that you are at a disadvantage here, you can not apply for a duel with an opponent that is in a superior position to you. A noble is not supposed to challenge a member of the imperial family to a duel in the first place, there is no such precedent either.

No way!

My answer will be the same no matter how much you raise your voice. And since your duel challenge is not allowed here, the question left is what to do with your rudeness so far. If you can not accept His Highness, you can simply stand against him. We are in the middle of a succession war after all. There was no need for you to disrespect His Majesty and insist on a duel here. As you are surely aware, there is a huge gap of power between a prince and an emperor. His Majesty is the absolute inside the Empire. Disrespecting him outperforms all of your crimes. Of course, anyone who agrees with your actions is also guilty of this.

Franzs eyes rest on the young nobles behind Laurenz.

They should be aware that they will share his blame for this but all of their faces turned blue at once.

Well, of course, they would be like that. Just how thoughtless they can be.

And Laurenz is also to blame. I have already revealed myself as Leo so that he can avoid the worst-case scenario. If only he says that he is willing to withdraw since its His Highness Leonard, then the final result would be much different.

Is that so.so you are on the side of His Highness Arnold huh.

It doesnt matter how you take my words. You should learn that your father kept you away from politics because you will only be emotional like this. I dont know if you will be allowed to act like this a second time though.

Saying so, Franz looks at Father.

What Franz is implying is whether or not Laurenz will be decapitated.

What he did here deserves such punishment. Knowing that, Elder Weitling quickly offered his head so that the punishment will not extend to the other nobles here.

Laurenz is Marquis Weitling and the leader of the white seagull alliance. He said that he only challenged me as an individual but as long as he has the status of a Marquis, he can not act as an individual. There is also the fact that he is the leader of their organization as well.

This matter will not be concluded with just Laurenz losing his head. It is far more complicated than that.

Will all the nobles in the white seagull alliance get beheaded to share his responsibility or will his head be sufficed for the crime of his organization.

There will be problems either way.

In the former case, many nobles will be decapitated just before the 25th coronation anniversary. It is an indication that the Empires internal affairs are not stable. The guests from other countries will not visit us and dark shadows will fall over the ceremony.

In the latter case, the whole Weitling house will be implicated. This will include a commander of the imperial knight corp. If the Emperor shows mercy here it will be received as him being indecisive and if he punishes her, we will lose one of our important knight commanders.

The reason why Laurenz is a big idiot here is that he doesnt consider his influence on others. He does as he pleased, but a marquis house is not one that can be moved however he likes.

too much is too much. If we are calling someone arrogant here it would be you, Marquis Weitling. Even though you are a subject, you hold the imperial family in contempt. Marquis Weitling will be beheaded along with all the major nobles inside the white seagull alliance.

So he chooses to lose face and protect a knight captain huh. Well, of course, I guess.

She is an important force of the Empire. Losing her would be a waste.

When I was thinking about such a thing, a female voice echoed inside the throne room.

Please wait, Your Majesty.

Its been a while since I last heard that voice.

Really. To think that she would come out here.

This will only make the situation more complicated, seriously.

The fact they can pull in such an influential person into this clearly shows how troublesome the Weitling house is. I really want the head of that house to move around while being more aware of his influence in the first place though.

I sigh internally at the middle-aged woman who entered the room.

Its been a long time. Your Majesty the Empress.

She is the wife of the Emperor and the lord of the inner palace.

The highest seat of power for all the women of the Empire.

The Empress, Brunhild Lakes Adler.

It goes without saying who pulled her into this.

Therese appeared from behind the Empress.

She probably moved at the request of the wife of the Crown Prince and her daughter in law..

Making things even more complicated.

I glance at Fathers face.

Deep anger is shown on his face. Franz who is standing beside him is also frowning.

The worst scenario I expected had become a reality.

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